True, my 97 SE doesn't have ABS

 

Get what you can afford. You can always add to it later.

 

I'd say go for an SE.... even if your going to be upgrading your shocks/wheels/whatever... I feel the SE is the better "base" to start with. Also it is easier to find an SE 5spd then it is to find a GXE. And to clear up the anti-lock brake debate. ABS was a $900 option for all 4th generation Max's from 95-99. It became standard for the 5th generation models in 2000. For our model years, most Maxima's that had the ABS option were GLE's, very few SE's had them and its almost impossible to find a GXE with ABS. What it basically comes down to is, shop by price... a Maxima's a Maxima no matter what trim line. As peteymax says.. get what you can afford.

 

Yeah, get one you can afford, but you can't add ABS later.

If you want:

a sunroof
5 speed
ABS

It's best to get the car with it already installed from the factory, not convert later. Lots of people here have converted their autos to 5 speeds, my hats off to them, but it is quite a complicated affair. Sunroofs you can add later, but i wonder of their reliability and leakproofness. ABS, well, no way. The car should be born with it.

DW

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by dwapenyi
[B]Yeah, get one you can afford, but you can't add ABS later.

If you want:

a sunroof
5 speed
ABS

you can add ABS to a GXE ya jus have to know what ur doin

I could add it on mine I have an ABS system at my disposal but I figure I dont really wana bother with it with my big brake kit


and anyways the Maxima ABS system sucks ***... reminds me of the cheap *** ABS in a Mazda Protege... and the ABS in my sisters Cavalier feels better than the Maxima ABS...

 

Advantages of the SE over GXE:

leather wrapped steering wheel and shift ****
white gauges
no chrome
most have a moonroof, power drivers seat, Bose
spoiler
foglights
stiffer suspension

It would be a tough decision if I had to do it all over again. I've got an SE with all the option except ABS, leather, and heated seats. I installed leather seats in December and it dramatically improves the image of luxury and feel. I recommend finding a cloth SE/GXE and coverting to aftermarket leather. I like having the moonroof, love the factory guages. No aftermarket gauges match the "coolness" factor of the stock SE gauges. The SE gauges change from black on white in the day to white on black at night. I've never seen an aftermarket gauge kit that has these properties. Suspension wise, once you change out the springs and struts, you've removed the handling advantage of the SE. If the SE standard equipment isn't important to you, then get the GXE because it's slightly lighter.

Dave

 

I agree completely. All these little things add up, and very few people change all these things on their GXE.

The Steering wheel feels much different, and much better (in my opinion). Plus the SE wheels are good looking wheels, even if you go with aftermarket wheels you still have a good set for backup or winter.

 

well do this...
call stillen and tell them to put a SC on your se than call back and tell them you want to put it on a gxe after they finish laffin than you will know..oh by the way i got an se but ya tell

 

hmmmm are you smoking some canibus?

 

If a nice steering wheel is that important to you then by all means do NOT get an SE. I have a leather/wood steering wheel from Nis Knacks http://www.nis-knacks.com/products/m..._steering.html
(mine is actually a rosewood one off prototype. just like those, but thw wood section is more red...really matches my burgandy car)
Anyway, these steering wheels do not fit on the SE's due to some mounting stud being different. They only fit on GXE and GLE's. If you really want to set yourself apart from the crowd, check them out. very few cars on the road have them here in the US. A few Lexus and mercedes may have them, but they are not standard by any means.

 

Thanks for all the input to my question.... At this point I'm still looking, not sure what I will end up with, probably it will be based on what comes up first for the right price/mileage, condition etc.

 

SE steering wheels, at least in the 97-99s, are really nice. No wood, but great shape, perforated leather grips, and the aribag isn't so over-sized, like the stock wheel.

DW

 

why do you say the wheel wont fit an se? it doesnt say it wont on the website. its not because of a mounting stub, if anything, its the airbag being different, therefor a different wheel is used....

 

Actually I stand corrected. They will fit an SE. the website used to say that it didn't fit, but Richard Crabbe just updated his site and corrected that. there was some mixup and his supplier said it wouldn't fit, but actually they do. In any case, I highly recommend these steering wheels. you have to see it in person to appreciate it.

 

How many horses does the GXE come with?

 

ummm abs was optional those years buddy

 

The same as the GLE and SE.

 

 

What are sprints for $141? And where can I buy them?

 

All Maxima trim levels have the same 190hp V6 engine.

 

Not at all true. Only GXE's without the C&C Package have a limiter.

I have a 97 GXE with C&C and Power Driver's seat, and I've tken her up to 130, no problem.....could have gone faster if I hadn't chickened out.

IanS

 

Get a GLE, and sit back and ride in the comfert of the Grand Luxory Edition!

 

I have one too, and it gives the Maxima that sporty attitude

 

I agree, if I got a newer SE, this time I'd get all the options

 

notice a trend on this board.. most of the fastest cars on this board are GXE's.. you know why? because they spent hte extra money on something else..

Delio (10 PSI Supercharged)
Cheston (10 PSI Supercharged)
JAY25 (10 PSI Supercharged)
MardigrasMax (10 PSI Supercharged w/ NOS)
sx7r (100 shot NOS)
me (100 shot NOS)
Synki (100 shot NOS)

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Dave B
[B] Advantages of the SE over GXE:

my GXE came with both stock


yes

yes
you can get a gxe with all that.. NickStam's gxe came with spoiler.. and if you get the C&C package i am sure it comes with power seat

yes

yes .. but even you got rid of yours

 

Your GXE is a just plain strange, a frankenstein. You know it shouldn't have come with that stuff.

DW

 

Just don't drive too fast or you'll float off the road

 

 

My GXE has a spoiler also. I made them install the spolier and tint the windows as part of the deal for buying the car.

IanS

 

The spoiler is understandable, and so are fogs. Those options can be added to the GXE or GLE. But the white gages and the SE steering wheel?? That's supposed to be exclusive to the SE. Can't add them or nuthin' from the factory. Gotta get an SE for that.

DW

 

never said i had white face gauges

 

Oh. OK. So it was just the shift **** and the steering wheel. Still a freak, but a more easily creatable one

DW

 

I could easily get my steering wheel leather-wrapped by a local upholstery shop at as good or better quality than an SE.

As for White Guages? One word:
Indiglo.

IanS

 

no

two words.. reverse indiglo..

VW style

 

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....ghlight=covers

 

heh...Either way....

 

whats funny is.. alot of the SE's on this board.. have suspension mods.. reverse indiglos.. you even find a couple SE's with leatherseats.com two tone seats.. and they also have aftermarket rims.. but when you see their car next to mine.. you can't even really tell whats a SE or GXE.. only that mine weighs less

 

You mean when you're not in the car, right?

 

something wrong with being 6'3 240?